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W. 0. DURYEA. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

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by semicircular racks of short radius.

UNITED STATES PATENr -rrrcn XVILLIAM O. DURYEA, OF BLAXVENBURG, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, AND GEORGE EDWARDS, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

BED-MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,840, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed August 7, 1897. Serial No. 647,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. DURYEA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blawenburg, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bed-Motions for Cylinder Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for traversing the reciprocating bed of a cylinder printing-machine or other machine, moving it at a uniform rate through the middle portion of its stroke, gradually slowing at the end, stopping, and then gradually in creasing the speed in the reverse direction.

It consists of a peculiar arrangement of racks and spur-gears. The racks are carried in a frame secured to the bed and comprise a horizontal pair, one above and the other below a gear-wheel engaging one or the other and thereby driving the bed through the middle portion of its reciprocation in either direction. From points near the ends of these racks extend in both directions inclined racks, converging toward the center line and joined On the same shaft and turning with the gearwheel are two oppositely-set spiral gears, the major radius of each being the same as that of the gear-wheel and graduallyrunning down to a considerably less radius to a line near the axial line of the shaft at which the teeth on each coincide, the efiect being to engage the inclined rack at the same time or a little before the gear-wheel leaves the horizontal rack and gradually slow down the bed by reason of the lessening in radius of the spiral gear until the semicircular rack is reached, at the central point of which the bed is stopped and the other spiral gear engages, gradually increasing the speed in the opposite direction until the maximum is attained and the gearwheel engages the opposite horizontal rack. The gear-wheel or one or other of the spiral gears is always in mesh and all are fixed on the same shaft, thus insuring constant hold on the bed, reversing without shock, and positive engagement of the several gears and racks at the proper times.

The invention also consists in the construction and arrangement of the means for shift ing the gears to reverse the direction of motion and in other details to be described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as I have carried it out.

Figure l is a side elevation with portions of the framework removed to show the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Figs. 4c and 5 are on a larger scale and show the spur and spiral gears detached. Fig. 4 is a side view, and Fig. 5 is a corresponding edge view.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A is the bed, and B the cylinder, of a printing-machine, supported and guided in ways in any usual or approved manner.

O is a frame attached to the under side of the bed, traveling therewith and carrying the racks.

D is a shaft driven by a belt or otherwise from a source of power not represented. The bearing D is arranged to allow the shaft to tilt vertically therein to the slight extent required, and the bearing D is in a swinging arm D turning on the center or stud D set in the fixed framing of the press. On the inner end of the shaft is keyed the plane spur gear-wheel E and the spiral gear-wheels F and G. The edge of the gear F at the point of longest radius has its teeth coincident with the adjacent teeth on the gear-wheel E. It then draws inward on a true volute curve and also travels away from the gear, making something more thanone complete circuit and ending with a radius of one-quarter or other small fraction of the major radius. Adjoiningit is the spiral gear G, a'counterpart in all respects of the gear F, curving in the opposite direction and away from its neighbor, as shown, and ending on a radius corresponding to the other and to the gear-wheel E. On a line near the center and where the radius is at the minimum the adjacent teeth on both spiral gears coincide or form in effect one or more single teeth extending across the face of both.

L L are the horizontal racks, carried in the frame O, one above and the other below the gear-Wheel E in the same plane therewith and adapted when in mesh to drive the bed through the middle portion of its traverse in one direction or the other as the upper or lower rack is engaged.

M is a rack beginning alongside of the lower rack L at one end, with its teeth coincident therewith, inclining upward and away from the lower rack and flowing into the twisted or bent semicircular rack M, from which extends the upwardly and outwardly inclined portion M terminatingin the same plane, but separated from the adjacent end of the upper rack L. At the opposite end of the frame 0 is a correspondingly inclined and curved rack N N N beginning alongside of the upper rack L, ending near the lower rack L, but at a little distance therefrom, as shown. The lines of the racks M M M and N N N are those developed by the spiral gears F and G in making one and one-half turns in traversing from one end of the lower rack L to the beginning of the upper rack L, the transition from one spiral gear to the other taking place when the coinciding tooth of each is engaged in the center of the semicircular rack.

H is a flanged roller turning on a pin 71, set in the end of the shaft D, adjacent to the spiral gear G. Itengages in the horseshoe-shaped groove z'of a guide I at each end of the stroke and holds the shaft, with its spiral gears, in the proper relation to the semicircular racks and, with the roller D on the end of the arm D acting on the curved faces J at the ends of the guide-rail J, allows the lifting of the shaft at the proper time. Through the main portion of the length of the guide-rail its vertical depth is such that when the roller D 'is riding upon its upper face the gear-wheel E will be in mesh with'the upper rack L, and when it lies in contact with its lower face the same wheel will mesh with the lower rack L. The conformation at the ends is peculiar. Besides the curved face J at each end are two inclined portions J above and below. These, with the straight portions of the groove '5, produce the required lifting and lowering of the shaft and gears in reversing at the ends of the stroke, or, rather, these parts hold the shaft in proper position while making the transition.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 1 that with the parts moving as indicated by the arrows the gears will travel up the inclined portion N of the rack, and it would be naturally assumed that the shaft must correspondingly rise; but, in fact, the opposite condition obtains, and the shaft lowers because of the rapid decrease in radius of the spiral gear engaged at that time in that part of the rack. The reversed eifect is observed as soon as the return movement is initiated and is provided for by the inclined upper face of the guiderail and upper portion of the groove 2'. The same conditions exist at the opposite end of the frame 0, but are of course reversed.

The operation has been outlined in the foregoing description, but may be again briefly set forth.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and moving in the directions indicated by the arrows, the gear-wheel E,

meshing with the rack L, drives the bed uniformly until it reaches the end. Then the spiral gear Gengages the inclined rack N and as the radius rapidly lessens the speed of the bed is correspondingly decreased. At the point where the inclined rack joins the semicircular rack the roller H enters the guide I and is compelled to follow the path described by the groove 2' therein, and the engagement of the roller D under the guide-rail J determines the exact point at which the shaft may lift. This takes place while passing the center of the semicircular rack, and during the short period of transfer the bed is stationary and the spiral gear and shaft move idly upward. It is during this momentary period that the other spiral gear F engages the semicircular rack and immediately begins the return movement of the bed, the guide 1 holding the shaft and gears in proper relation to the racks and the roller D now riding upon the guide-rail. The spiral gear F traverses the upper inclined rack N until it reaches the end, and the gearwheel E engages the upper horizontal rack L and carries the bed to the opposite end,where the operation of reversing is repeated, lowering the shaft, as will be understood. The racks are never all disengaged at once, thus insuring control of the bed at all times. The transition from the high speed in the central portion of the travel to the momentary stop at the end is so gradual as to produce no severe strains on the mechanism nor shock to the framing, and the shaft revolves at a uniform speed in all parts of the stroke. Thus conditioned the speed of the press may be as high as desired, being limited not by the approach to the line of dangerous speed, but by the rate at which the machine can be fed and still produce good work.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages. The volute curve of the spiral gears may be varied to increase or diminish the length of the travel in which the bed is slowed andv stopped, or the radii may be changed to approach nearer to the center at the point of transition. In any case the inclined and semicircular racks must be modified to correspond thereto. Other means of guiding the shaft and holding it in proper relation to the racks may be substituted for the guide I and guide-rail J.

Although I have described the invention as applied to a cylinder-press, it will be understood that it will serve successfully in any analogous machine in which it is necessary to reciprocate a bed or corresponding piece of mechanism. The direction of motion may be vertical instead of horizontal, as here shown, or at any intermediate angle.

I claim 1. A reciprocating bed, in combination with a shaft and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears thereon, and a rack comprising two inclined portions joined by a curved portion adapted to serve with said gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at the end of its stroke, all substantially as herein specified.

2. A reciprocatingbed, in combination with a shaft, a spur-gear and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears thereon, a rack meshing with said spur-gear and serving to drive the bed through a portion of its stroke, and a rack comprising two inclined portions joined by a circular portion serving withsaid spiral gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at the end of its stroke, all substantially as herein specified.

3. A reciprocatingbed, in combination with a shaft, a spur-gear and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears thereon, two horizontal racks, one above and the other below said spurgear and serving with the latter to drive the bed through the middle portion of its stroke in either direction, racks comprising two inclined portions joined by a curved portion, arranged one at each end of the pair of said horizontal racks, serving with said spiral gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at each end of its stroke, all substantially as herein specified.

4. A reciprocating bed, in combination with a shaft and its bearings arranged to allow said shaft to rise and sink, a spur-gear and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears on said shaft, two horizontal racks, one above and the other below said spur-gear and serving with the latter to drive the bed through the middle portion of its stroke in either direction, racks comprising two inclined portions joined by a curved portion, arranged one at each end of the pair of said horizontal racks, serving with said spiral gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at each end of its stroke, all substantially as herein specified.

5. A reeiprocatingbed, in combination with a shaft, a spur-gear and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears thereon, two horizontal racks, one above and the other below said spur-gear and serving with the latter to drive the bed through the middle portion of its stroke in either direction, racks comprising two inclined portions joined by a curved portion, arranged one at each of the pair of said horizon tal racks, serving with said spiral gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at each end of its stroke, and with a guide at each end serving to hold said spiral gears in proper relation to their racks, all substantially as herein specified.

6. A reciprocating bed, in combination with a shaft and its bearings arranged to allow said shaft to rise and sink, a spur-gear and two oppositely-inclined spiral gears on said shaft, two horizontal racks, one above and the other below said spur-gear and serving with the latter to drive the bed through the middle portion of its stroke in either direction, racks comprising two inclined portions joined by a curved portion, arranged one at each end of the pair of said horizontal racks, serving with said spiral gears in slowing, stopping, and reversing the motion of said bed at each end of its stroke, and with a guide at each end, an arm moving with said shaft, and a guide-rail engaged by said arm, serving with said guide to hold the shaft and its gears in proper relation to the racks, all substantially as herein specified.

7. The bed A arranged to be reciprocated in ways, in combination with the frame 0 carried by said bed, the horizontal racks L, L and inclined and curved racks M, M, M and N, N, N mounted in said frame, the shaft D and bearing D, swinging arm D supporting one end of said shaft, and the spur-gear E and spiral gears F and G carried by said shaft, all arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

8. The bed A arranged to be reciprocated in ways, in combination with the frame 0 carried by the said bed, the horizontal racks L, L and inclined and curved racks M, M, M and N, N, N mounted in said frame, the shaft D and bearing D, swinging arm D supporting one end of said shaft, and the spurgear E and spiral gears F and G carried by said shaft, the roller H, and guide I having the groove 't' engaged by said roller, all arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. 7

9. The bed A arranged to be reciprocated in ways, in combination with the frame 0 carried by the said bed, the horizontal racks L, L and inclined and curved racks M, M, M and N, N, N mounted in said frame, the shaft D and bearing D, swinging arm D supporting one end of said shaft, the spur-gear E and spiral gears F and G carried by said shaft, the roller H, guide I having the groove 1' engaged by said roller, the guide-rail J having inclined and curved faces J, J thereon, and the roller D on said swinging arm engagin g said guide-rail, all arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. DURYEA.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. STILLWELL, W. W. Lneen'rr. 

